Mr. VELDE. You might have some misunderstanding about what acquaintanceship is. I wanted to know if you ever saw him before. I can see no reason why you shouldn’t answer that question or why that would tend to incriminate you in any way. (The witness confers with his counsel.) Mr. HALONEN. Not being too sharp on the legal aspects, I am afraid of waiving my rights under the fifth amendment, and, for that reason, I am invoking the fifth amendment. Mr. VELDE. I am not trying to trap you. Seriously, I can see no reason for not identifying him or anyone else you may have seen before. A lot of people in this room are acquainted with people who have been incriminated and have served jail sentences. I see no reason why an acquaintanceship of that type with a person should incriminate you or me or anyone else. (The witness confers with his counsel.) Mr. HALONEN. Well, I respectfully invoke the fifth amendment again on the question asked for the reasons previously stated. Mr. VELDE. Have you ever known any member of the Communist Party? (The witness confers with his counsel.) Mr. HALONEN. I again must decline to answer that question under the fifth amendment, as previously stated. Mr. VELDE. Have you ever met a member of the Communist Party? Mr. HALONEN. Again I decline to answer under the fifth amendment for the reasons stated previously. Mr. VELDE. Do you know anyone in this room? (The witness confers with his counsel.) Mr. HALONEN. I know my counsel here. (The witness confers with his counsel.) Mr. VELDE. Why do you admit that you know your counsel and refuse to admit that you know Mr. Dennett? (The witness confers with his counsel.) Mr. HALONEN. My acquaintance with my counsel could not possibly incriminate me in any way. Mr. VELDE. Do you feel that you are engaged at the present time in any activity which is of a subversive nature and subversive to the Government of the United States? (The witness confers with his counsel.) Mr. HALONEN. I must decline to answer that question again, under the fifth amendment, for the reasons as stated previously. Mr. VELDE. That is all, Mr. Chairman. Mr. MOULDER. In connection with the last question Mr. Velde was asking if you had any knowledge, or if you ever committed any act of espionage or engaged in any activity contrary to the interests of the United States, I will ask you this question? Are you engaged in any organization work or any activities leading toward the overthrow of our present form of government by force or violence? (The witness confers with his counsel.) Mr. HALONEN. I must decline, or I must state that I have never engaged in any espionage, but, as far as the rest of the question is concerned. I must again invoke the fifth amendment on possible self-incrimination.